Applicator



Jqne 9, 1936. w, sc 2,043,678

APPLICATOR Filed July 29, 1932 invent 02" MY/fam FEChmE/Z Patented June9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIeE APPLIGATOR Application July 29,1932, Serial No. 625,687

3 Claims.

The invention relates particularly to an applicator adapted for use withliquid medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations such as disinfectants,deodorants and the like. The applicator is 5 well adapted to be attachedto the closure of the bottle or other container in which the liquid ispackaged and sold, but the invention is not necessarily so limited.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- 19 vide an applicatorwhich is effective and convenient for its intended purpose and which canbe manufactured at a minimum expense and which can be convenientlyattached to the container closure. Stated more specifically, the ob- ]5ject of the invention is to provide an applicator of the classdescribed, wherein the body of absorptive material can be readilyassembled with the stem without excessive distortion, and wherein thesaid body when so assembled is firmly held 20 against removal andagainst relative rotation.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown two embodiments of theinvention, but it will be understood that the drawing is intended forillustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining orlimiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

0f the drawing:

Fig. i is an elevational view of a bottle with an applicator thereinincorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the applicator and theclosure or cap to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing in separated relationship the partsof the applicator proper.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a different embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the same embodiment ofthe invention as Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, I represents a bottle or container which maybe of any usual or preferred form, and 2 represents a closure or cap forthe bottle, this being preferably connected with the bottle by means ofsuitable threads, such as shown at 3 in Fig. 2. The cap 2 may have aliner or gasket 4 of any usual or preferred type for effectively sealingthe mouth of the bottle.

The applicator to which the invention partic- 50 ularly relatescomprises a stem 5, which may be molded from a suitable material orotherwise formed. At the lower end of the stem 5 there is a head orflange 6, the upper surface of which constitutes a radially projecting,abutment. I have shown a circular head, but it will be understood thatas to this the invention is not limited.

Carried by the stem 5 adjacent the lower end thereof is a body i ofresilient absorptive material. As to the material constituting the bodyI there may be wide variation and use may be made of felt, rubbersponge, natural sponge, or any other suitable material. Preferably asshown more clearly in Fig. 3 the body 1 is initially cylindrical in formwith a central hole 8 therein adapted to receive the stem 5. Thediameter of the body l is preferably considerably greater than that ofthe flange E.

The stem 5 has thereon above the flange or abutment E at least one stop9 and preferably a plurality of such stops. Two stops are shown in thedrawing. Each of the stops Q is preferably shaped to constitute a barbformed with an outer surface it inclined to facilitate downward movementof the body 1 of resilient absorptive material,

and formed with a downward facing lower surface a H which is adapted toserve as a stop to prevent upward movement of the said body. The saidlower surface If is preferably inclined outward and downward as shown.

Prior to the assembly of the stem 5 with the cap or closure 2 the body 1is positioned as shown in Fig. 3 and is pushed downward along the stemfrom the top thereof and is forced past the barbs 9, 9. The inclinedsurfaces H], H) of these barbs spread or expand the resilient materialof the body 7 so as to permit it to move past the barbs. Inasmuch as thebarbs 9, 9 are narrow, having a width no greater and preferably lessthan the diameter of the stem 5, the body 1 of absorptive material issubjected to a minimum of distortion as it is forced over the barbs. Assoon as the said body has moved past the barbs it contracts to itsnormal condition whereupon it is engaged by the lower surfaces II of thebarbs and is effectively held against relative upward movement. Thespacing between the barbs 9, 9 and the lower abutment 6 is such that thecentral portion of the body 1 is somewhat compressed as clearly shown inFig. 2. The result of this compression is that the head or flange 6 atthe bottom is partially or wholly concealed within the outlines of theresilient absorptive body. The engagement of the sharp points of thebarbs 9, 9 with the top of the body I prevents the said body fromrotating on the stem 5.

After the said body I has been assembled on the stem as described thetop portion of the stem can then be inserted in a boss 12 formed on thecap 2 and can be cemented in place.

It will be apparent that when the cap is in place on the bottle as shownin Fig. l the body 1 of resilient absorptive material is immersed in theliquid within the bottle. When the cap is removed the applicator can bewithdrawn carrying a supply of the liquid with it. By virtue of theresilient and pliable properties of the body 1 the liquid therein can beapplied to the skin or to any suitable surface conveniently andeffectively. The said body I is of such size that the upper part thereofis held in firm contact with the barbs, and

the barbs thus serve as before stated not only to prevent relativeupward movement but also to prevent relative rotative movement. It willbe obvious that the prevention of relative movement is essential, as theeffectiveness of the applicator would be seriously impaired if theabsorptive body were permitted to rotate during use.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown an embodiment of the invention whichdiffers slightly from that shown in Figs. 2 and 3 in that it includes awasher I 3 which surrounds the stem and engages the top of theabsorptive body I. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the stem 5 if provided withbarbs 9 9* similar to the barbs 9, 9 but preferably differently locatedand provided with lower surfaces which are approximately perpendicularto the axis of the stem. The washer I3 has a central hole adapted toreceive the stem and in addition has slots is, US therein which are ofsuch size and position as to permit the washer to be moved downward pastthe barbs.

It will be understood that in assembly the absorptive body I is firstput in place on the stem exactly as already described, and the washer I3is then placed on the stem and moved downward into engagement with thesaid body 1. The washer I3 is then turned so as to be locked in place bythe barbs 9 9*. If desired the washer I3 may be provided with groovesl5, [5 adapted to receive the lower edges of the barbs, the barbs thusserving to lock the washer against further turning.

It will be observed that the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has theadvantage that the re- What I claim is:

1. For an applicator, a stem having a radially projecting abutmentadjacent its lower end adapted to engage and hold a body of resilientabsorptive material and having above the abutment two oppositelypositioned laterally extending retaining barbs each having a width nogreater than the diameter of the stem and each formed with an outersurface inclined to facilitate downward movement of a body of absorptivematerial and each formed with a downward facing lowersurface, the saidbarbs being adapted to serve .to prevent upward movement of such a bodyand also to prevent relative rotation thereof.

2. An applicator comprising in combination, a body of resilientabsorptive material having a hole therethrough, a stem extending throughthe hole in the body and having adjacent its lower end a radiallyprojecting abutment engaging the said body, and two oppositelypositioned laterally extending barbs formed integrally with the stemabove the abutment and each having a width no greater than the diameterof the stem, the said barbs being each formed with an outer surfaceinclined to facilitate downward movement of the said body and with adownward facing lower surface and the said barbs serving to preventupward movement of the said body and also to prevent relative rotationthereof.

.3. An applicator comprising in combination, a body of resilientabsorptive material having a hole therethrough, a stem extending throughthe hole in the body and having adjacent its lower end a radiallyprojecting abutment engaging the said body, the said stem having abovethe abutment a plurality of separate circumferentially spaced narrowretaining barbs each formed with an outer surface inclined to facilitatedownward movementof the said body and with a downward facing laterallyextending lower surface, and a washer surrounding the stem and engagingthe top of the body of absorptive material, the said washer having slotspermitting it to be moved downward below the barbs and then turned so asto "be retained by the barbs.

WILLIAM F. SCHMALZ.

